Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Composition 15 - Jim Smith Treats

Here's a Jim layout drawn in the style of N.C. Wyeth, beautifully painted by Bill Wray.While collecting up art for the Spumco book, Jim and I came up with a lot of rare stuff.Jim's studies for Space Madness...Here's a character we created for a new Mighty Mouse pitch around 1994. He is the head of the crime syndicate in Catville and his name is "The Big Puss". Jim is great at drawing mass and power.

Here's a Phil layout from the first Ren and Stimpy cartoon.Jim is an all around cartoonist who did just about every job imaginable on Ren and Stimpy and other Spumco cartoons. He came up with story ideas, drew storyboards, designed characters and backgrounds, did layouts...whewHe even did some color keys.Jim is the guy who I've collaborated with the most in the last couple decades. For my taste, he is one of the best cartoonists ever. He totally has his own unique style and isn't part of a school of styles. There aren't many artists like that, and thats what makes him so valuable to the cartoons I like to make. He has many talents no one else (including me) has and I rely on him to do all the hard stuff.

He's a master of composition and solidity. Here are some of his sketches for a George Liquor cartoon called Sunday Drive To Mars. The crummy unshaded one just above is mine.He has a way of mixing cartoon and illustration techniques. He's the only artist I've ever seen who can make something look serious and funny at the same time. His work is like a caricature of seriousness. That made him perfect for not only Ren and Stimpy, but The Ripping Friends.Here's some spectacular work from a secret project.

There will be lots more great Jim art in the Spumco book and a chapter all about the bastard. I hope you are as jealous as I am of his talent.

Oh, and incidentally he also did the music for the opening and closing titles of Ren and Stimpy as part of "Der Screamin' Lederhosen". The man seems to have every creative talent.Ralph Bakshi portrait drawn by Jim, painted by Simone Dupuis.

45 comments:

absolutely fantastic! Jim's my idol. I totally agree with him being "the serious caricature". He's got the best way to tell precise emotion while maintaining those incredible BGs. He's obviously one of the most underrated BG artist's. I had to watch every episode of ren and stimpy so dilligently before I could even take a step back and dissect anything because he gets his audience so invested in his storytelling.

I had to comment after seeing the painting of Bakshi. Fire Dogs 2 is one of the funniest things I ever saw. That particular painting makes me laugh so much. The first time I watched it I was with my pal, and right when he grabs Rens hand and it cuts to that shot, my friend just goes "Uh-Oh", because even though you have no idea whats going on yet, you somehow understand that this is an unstable man who is dangerous.

I love the final painting in that cartoon of Bakshi sitting up in bed when his eyes suddenly turn red right before that whole crazy axe scene. But that shot of him after grabbing Rens hand is chilling. Funny and scary at the same time.

I love Jim's art. He's amazing! That secret project looks great. Are you involved with that as well or is it just something Jim's working on?

Also, in reply to the last post I just wanna say that your blog is the best. I've learned alot about cartoons and good art and you also introduced me to the awesomness of Kirk Douglas and Robert Mitchum.

I got one of Jim Smith's books this past summer at a festival in New York. His work has a spark that is big and unique. I studied the book intensely (at least for a few months) trying to figure out what made his style so appealing (I admit I've been lazy the last few months). Looking forward to the Spumco book.

Man, I CANNOT wait for this Spumco book! I bought Jim Smith's sketchbook "Naked Are the Dead" (???? I think that was the title) -- and the art just blew me away. Also, I used to collect the Spumco comic books, the big, large-size format one. Whenever it's been exhausting at work, I just flip through these books and laugh.

That was Jim Smith on that cool guitar intro?!? Great stuff Jim. Ok, now Im a little jealous.

Im grateful you guys are shsring your talents and insight into making funny pictures.

Computers ruined music, I hope the same hasnt happened to cartoons.Take a listen to all the computer generated music of the 80s. I know some of you are nostalgic for that stuff, but compared to what came before it, it was not an improvement. Seeing what Flash has done to cartoons I really hope that Johns students can make a difference in the landscape of cartooning by actually learning to draw and being passionate and uncompromising about the art.

wow man , the big bad cat is pretty cool....and the layouts are pretty cool,so direct .. loved them.remember first time i saw ren and stimpy.. it was like col at last brand new old cartoons!!!congrats for the blog :)